president obama is campaigning close to home in washington, d.c. today as romney courts donors and voters in pennsylvania, both men gearing up for week's crucial first debate. we have our esteemed panel of nbc news political experts here raring to go, but first let's get to nbc's peter alexander in philadelphia. peter, good morning. >> reporter: savannah, good morning to you. all week long president obama and mitt romney have largely been chasing one another's shadow, first in new york and then ohio and finally in virginia. this weekend they will head their own direction as they prepare for that first critical head-to-head showdown, the first in the country presidential debate in the country next wednesday. virginia, the old dominion. >> we've got to win in virginia. >> reporter: could be the new must-win state this november. >> we'll win virginia again. >> reporter: with duelling events thursday, the president and mitt romney competed for votes in the battleground with deep military ties, appealing to voters who have been to battle before, veteran